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Topic: First hive (Read 1906 times)

I've started buying items for my first hive. I'm going with an 8-frame hive from Brushy Mountain. I have a list of things I still need to buy and a sequence in which to buy them as I can afford them. My question today is about bees. There is an apiary about three hours from me in Stillwater, MN and I was thinking that that should be my source. I figure I can drive up there and get the bees rather than have then sent in the post. That way will be a lot less stressful on me as I won't have to worry about their condition when they arrive and I think it would definately be easier on the bees. Has anyone done business with them or know anything about them? How big of an order should I make? TIA......Steve

Although I have never done business with the firm you mentioned,I would suggest you purchase either a three pound package of bees with a queen or one nuc. Does this outfit have a website? Anytime you can buy bees close to home base is great, because they would have better survivability, if in fact they are reared locally.

Brushy Mountain Bee Farm in my area was very helpful and prices were competetive. I picked up my two packages there last year as they are located about 2 hours N.E. of me. I didn't realize they had a store in Iowa as well. I have now found a local supplier and use him instead for convenience - he's only 20 minutes away.

Stingtarget.....Brushy Mountain doesn't have a store in Iowa. I'm dealing with them mailorder. I chose them because they are the only ones I've found so far who sell 8-frame hives and related equipment. I'm hoping my experience with them will be good. I'm guessing from your post that they have been good to you. Compared to where Brushy Mountain is Dadant is just a state away but so far I haven't been impressed. I ordered a video from them on Dec. 23. They sent me an email that shipment would be delayed because of inventory. Understandable. My order was finally processed on Dec. 27 but not shipped until Jan. 2. Quite a gap there. I hope that was just a one time thing. I do a lot of mailorder buying and believe and expect that orders should be shipped the same day they are processed, unless there is a backordered item of course.

Michael......In a few of your posts you have talked about using 8-frame hives almost exclusivley. I've bought Brushy Mountain's medium hive with the intent of adding another medium super to add more room to the brood and food chambers. My question is where will I put the queen when I introduce her to the hive? At the top of the bottom medium or the middle one? Or should I go with a deep hive bodies and use the medium supers for honey production? I'm trying to cut down on the amount of weight I will have to deal with when it comes time to do the lifting part of the hobby. TIA...Steve